Rising tide: Rookie Svechnikov is surging Hurricanes' secret weapon
TORONTO - Barely 19 years old and only 80 games into his NHL career, Andrei Svechnikov is crafting a scene for a Hollywood movie script, whether he realizes it or not.
Roaming the ice past midnight, the rink emptied out after Carolina Hurricanes home games, Svechnikov will shoot pucks until it hurts. The next morning, the Russian rookie will arrive for a team function like everybody else, sometimes with cuts and calluses on his hands - marks from pushing himself to the limit.
Michael Martin / Getty ImagesIt's a late-night routine that legendary workhorse Jaromir Jagr would be proud of, and it's no stunt. He's already developed a reputation for being a tireless worker in the gym and on the ice, including last season while playing for the OHL's Barrie Colts.
"I'm young, you know, I have to work," Svechnikov smiled Tuesday, downplaying the late-night sessions in an interview prior to the Hurricanes' 4-1 win over the Maple Leafs.
Linemate Jordan Martinook nods at a suggestion that Svechnikov's postgame regimen belongs in an inspirational sports flick. "They might have to do one on him and have Drago play Svech," Martinook said with a laugh, referencing Rocky Balboa's Russian nemesis in "Rocky IV."
Despite that cinematic appeal, little fanfare has accompanied Svechnikov's strong rookie season. The Calder Trophy conversation is dominated by Elias Pettersson and filled out by the likes of Rasmus Dahlin, Jordan Binnington, Brady Tkachuk, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, and Miro Heiskanen. Svechnikov, despite being the No. 2 pick in the 2018 draft, probably won't crack the top five in voting.
Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesEven in Raleigh, Svechnikov's progress has been overshadowed by the Storm Surge phenomenon, the "Bunch of Jerks" rally cry, an 82-point season from No. 1 center Sebastian Aho, owner-driven headlines, trade rumors, and a late-season playoff push. With a regulation or overtime win against the Devils on Thursday and a Canadiens loss, the Canes will secure a playoff spot for the first time in a decade. (They'll also clinch with a shootout win if Montreal loses to the Capitals in regulation.)
"I love it," Svechnikov said of the stretch drive. "Everything from the games to having fun in the locker room. We've already been playing for three weeks like it's playoffs. I've never played in the playoffs but it feels that way. We have to win every game."
Svechnikov's basic stat line - 20 goals, 17 assists, plus-2 rating, 58 penalty minutes, 189 shots in 14:40 per night - may not jump off the page. His raw skills and physical package are tantalizing, though. Get used to seeing some variation of this power move for the next two decades:
ANDREI SVECHNIKOV. He burns Shea Weber and roofs it on Carey Price. Beautiful goal. 1-0 Hurricanes. pic.twitter.com/q6e3Qvc2Yq
- Brett Finger (@brett_finger) December 14, 2018
"He's so good at driving the net, drawing people to him, and creating chances for his linemates," said Warren Foegele, a fellow first-year NHL forward. "You saw that at the beginning of the year, too, but it's his rookie year and there's a learning curve. He's such a smart hockey player - has so many tools - and you can just see now how much more comfortable and confident he is with the puck."
Against the Maple Leafs, Svechnikov skated for 13 minutes and 52 seconds, fifth among Hurricane forwards. The third-line left winger failed to collect a point, yet the team finished with a 12-4 shot margin with him on the ice. He registered five of those shots himself.
In the second period, Svechnikov prolonged an offensive-zone possession that led to Dougie Hamilton's second-period power-play goal. Moments later, he flashed that aforementioned confidence with the puck by going for a cross-ice skate through the slot before whiffing on a backhand:
I am here for these one-man show shifts from Svechnikov. pic.twitter.com/ptcVolRCHt
- Corey Sznajder (@ShutdownLine) April 3, 2019
Veteran Jordan Staal says he's noticed better "situational awareness" lately from Svechnikov, who's been a prolific goal-scorer at every level but needed to plow through some rough patches in the NHL.
"You could see it tonight," Staal said following the Toronto game. "When he's got the puck, he's got some strength, some speed, and some skill. He's learned how to play the NHL game. In juniors, he was probably freewheeling and he could probably do whatever he wanted."
In early January, Svechnikov experienced a nine-game goal-scoring drought. The 6-foot-2, 195-pounder - described by Martinook as a "bulldozer" whose shot is "second to none" - expressed his frustration to the Canes inner circle, but he didn't brood for long.
"A couple of guys talked to him, coaches talked to him, and he comes back the next day and he's got a smile on his face," Martinook said. "Then he goes out and has a three-point night in Calgary. He's just very good to rebound and let stuff wash away."
Svechnikov, one of only nine Hurricanes to dress for all 80 games, is tied with Teuvo Teravainen for third on the team in goals. All 20 tallies came at even strength, giving him the rookie lead in that category. And it's no small feat considering that he's predominantly lined up with Martinook and Lucas Wallmark, a pair of depth NHLers.
As the table below shows, Svechnikov's produced basically the same amount of even-strength offense throughout the season, though he's recently improved his possession metrics and tidied up in the discipline department.
| Category | Oct.-Jan. | Feb.-April | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goals | 1.2 per 60 min | 1.2 per 60 | 0 |
| Points | 1.8 per 60 | 2.0 per 60 | +0.2 |
| Shots | 57.0% | 59.2% | +2.2% |
| Chances | 56.6% | 57.9% | +1.3% |
| Penalties | 1.9 per 60 | 0.8 per 60 | -1.1 |
(All even-strength stats via NaturalStatTrick.com; "shots" refers to shot attempts for percentage; "chances" refers to scoring chances for percentage)
With two regular-season games remaining, the third-youngest player in the league has also accumulated 29 minor penalties, ninth-most in the NHL. That would normally be an alarming statistic. However, Svechnikov has settled down, taking just six minors in the 30 games since Feb. 1.
"When you're 17 and you're probably one of the best players in the OHL, you're not going to get called," Martinook explained. "When you're a rookie in the NHL ... those guys don't get the benefit of the doubt. I'd say for a couple of (the penalties) this year, he was on that side of it. Just growing throughout the year, he's started to understand where he can get away with one or he needs to pull the reins back a little bit."
There's one important contribution the table doesn't properly capture: Svechnikov has also influenced how frequently Carolina attacks from prime goal-scoring areas. Shot volume heat maps from HockeyViz.com suggest the Canes are much more dangerous in the crease and slot areas when Svechnikov is on the ice at five on five:
Hurricanes, with Svechnikov on the ice
HockeyViz.comHurricanes, without Svechnikov on the ice
HockeyViz.comIn these heat maps, red denotes a higher-than-average volume of shot attempts. The bottom map, without Svechnikov, includes a blanket of blue and an abundance of white.
The youngster's been a welcome addition to a franchise hamstrung for years by poor goaltending, along with an inability to generate and capitalize on scoring opportunities. Converting zone time and shot attempts into goals has been a major issue throughout the playoff drought. Drago - er, Svechnikov - is a comfy fit.
"To only be 18 - or 19 now - and to be able to do what he's doing at that age is, I think, unreal," said Hamilton, one of Svechnikov's closest friends. "He's a really good kid, works so hard every day. He's the last guy off the ice, always trying to improve. He's just going to get better and better."
John Matisz is theScore's National Hockey Writer. You can find him on Twitter @matiszjohn.
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